I have to start by offering my congratulations to Hollie Doyle on her record-breaking success this week.
She is unbelievable, isn’t she? I absolutely love watching her ride as she has such a great racing brain and she’s strong in a finish too. I’ve no doubt she’s going to keep improving, too.
Huntingdon and Cork on Sunday
On Sunday, there’s plenty of good racing going on.
The Peterborough Chase (14:00) at Huntingdon is the feature in England and the focus will be on whether La Bague Au Roi 9/4 can return to form after she pulled up in the Charlie Hall.
I think they all have to beat ASO 5/2, trained by Venetia Williams. He was a superb second in the Ryanair Chase last year and always seems to be overlooked. He was a good third on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall chase, but this trip of 2m3f will suit him better. Any cut in the ground will help – as it does with most of Venetia’s horses.
The Grade One John Durkan Chase at Punchestown (13:50) is another great race. Min 10/1 will go very well.
She’s getting seven pounds from the geldings and has the benefit of a run under her belt this season. With Gordon’s [Elliott] horses flying, I really don’t think she’ll be too far away. It’s worth remembering that she won a JLT Chase two years ago, so she has plenty of class.
Cork is a racecourse where the fences come at you thick and fast and you need to be able to jump well.
In the 14:35, i’m a big fan of BALLYOISIN 6/4 who is so slick over his fences and, given his experience, I think he’ll be able to cope with the demands and should be tough to beat in this four-runner affair.
Sandown and Aintree on Saturday
The big race on Saturday is the Tingle Creek at Sandown Park. While it’d be some roar if Un De Sceaux 13/8.
He has age on his side, is fast improving and is all class. He was a good winner at Cheltenham last time, and I don’t see why he shouldn’t beat Politologue 4/1 again. It’s going to be a great race as there are plenty of good horses in the line-up, but I do think it’ll be the Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding that’ll take the spoils.
The Becher Chase at Aintree is a race I love to watch. It’s always wide open and this year is no different.
You could make a case for plenty in the field, but I can’t understand why LE BREUIL 20/1 is such a big price. He won the four-miler at the Festival, so we know he stays well, and has the added benefit of Jamie Codd going over for the ride.
Jamie is such a good rider and he’ll no doubt have him in a good position and hunt him around, just popping away at those fences. I know there has been a cloud over Ben Pauling’s yard, but it’s good to see him having entries again, so they must be showing signs of improvement at home. I can see him running a big race.
At Navan, there is a really good Grade B Handicap Hurdle over an extended three-mile trip and the one horse I think must take some stopping is TOUT ET PERMIS SP.
He’s better known for being a chaser, a discipline he’s rated 155 over. On his first run over hurdles since January last year, however, he runs off a mark of 114. With the excellent Rachel Blackmore on top, he really must take some beating if he transfers his fences form to hurdles.
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